C2 coupe or C2 Cab for first P-car purchase????

Background: I live in Orlando. I've never had a convertible before. Girlfriend likes the open-air idea. I like the open-air idea. I'm 31, doing great at work and deserve either one. Problem is that I have a tendency to consider friends' opinions a little too much. Granted, if I didn't think the same way at least a little bit I would not entertain the idea at all. But the person that I know in Orlando the most (besides my girlfriend) has the following cars: Audi RS6, Gallardo, 360 Stradale, '07 ZO6, '07 Escalade. None of which are topless (obviously). He hounds me because he thinks that I will regret the decision to get a Cab. Is he too homophobic or is he right??????

Cab all the way. I currently own 2 convertibles, and have owned several over the years. Nothing beats a cab on a nice balmy summer night, or a fine sunny day.

I think this topic has been debated at length. Only you can decide what is right for you. Coupe has better lines, is lighter and will cost less but a spirited evening drive with the top down makes it all worthwhile. I for one do not regret having the cabriolet and if doing it again I would only consider a cab because I just love the open air ride, however it is not a daily driver and I only use it when the weather is good. Those who drive their P's daily may feel differently. Good luck with your search!

Drive both, decide for yourself. Personally, I HATE open air cars, too noisy, too windy, too sunny. I know others who drive topless at 40 degrees and love it. The only way to know what you should do is to try both. From a pure sports car perspective, the cab adds weight. From a utility perspective, a cab has less storage and passenger space. Neither is a killer argument if you like the top down. Good luck!

If rattles bother you get a coupe...still has rattles but less of them. This is what you get with a Japanese Porsche

Real men go topless..

I was in the same boat. Drove both and then drove the BoxsterS. Actually I drove *every* 996 but the GT2/3. I want a Pcar coupe next (everybody needs at least two pcars) so I'm debating a CaymanS or 996 TT(want dry sump). The BoxsterS will be my summer/autocross/DE car. This all very excessive because I only drive Fri-Sun. I spent some time in Orlando where my folks briefly retired to. There are some good autocross going on there and great tracks all over FL. I'd get the coupe. If you're interested in motorsports get a BoxsterS (now available with a CaymanS engine) or a 996S. If youre just mostly cruising with your GF and the ocassional dwarf or two get the Cab.

Topless all the way....

It really is a matter of how you are going to use the car and your personal preference in looks. While it is great to take a nice drive with the top down, if you are in the car a lot and using it as a daily driver, that top stays up most of the time. Personally I think a coupe looks a lot nicer than a cab, but to each his own. You won't go wrong either way. Just make your mind up and go for it.

Hands down the CAB! However, you don't DESERVE a car like this. Nobody deserves anything. You earned a car like this. Accomplishment is regarded better than arrogance. Anyway, I bought the CAB as my first to have both a 911 and a CAB at the same time. That way , my wife and I were ALWAYS happy. You can add the hardtop at ANYTIME and it transforms the car immediately. Best of luck in your seach

cab all the way. my first p-car is cab. and it's my first "open" car, didn't even have targa/t-top before. love it.

a convert is definitely a lot of fun, but i just don't like the look of the 911 cabs. it looks awkward at best,b ut if YOU like it, by all means go for the cab. you can certainly hear the flat six much better and be seen much easier.

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/rockon.gif https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/bowdown.gif

I'm in Orlando and drive to Ormond Beach for work... coupe if you drive a lot, it's MUCH quieter...a Cab if its a Toy car !

I'm in Pensacola and was in the same situation as you. I ultimately decided on the cab mainly because mine is not a daily driver. The cab is sweet and you can really hear the engine as the RPMs increase. Besides, you can't live in Florida without a convertible!

Warm weather and no snow or ice means Cab all the way - I did it in Cali and have never yearned for a hard top. The car is still nice and stiff, more quiet than expected with the top up, and still performs very well (considering any extra weight). If you get a Cab, you'll never say "I wish I had a hard top." If it's sunny and you're in a hard top, you may say, "damn, I wish I could put the top down."

Your not really going to ask those on this forum to decide what you should drive are you?? Get off your butt and drive a few examples of each. Then you can choose what YOU like best. O'yeah........996 cabs are for girls, when real men want to go topless they drive Boxsters........(just kidding)

FWIW, I had zero interest ina cab - a coupe was/is the only version I have an interest in. So, I'm glad you guys all prefer cabs - it keeps the price of coupes down.

I agree with what many have said - pure opinion of your own/go drive each and see what you think. however, in my personal opinion the coupes look better/more bad azz. Oh yeah, tell your friend to let you drive the Z06

I think you are all forgetting about the Targa option...

My 996 cab was the first cab I have owned. I bought this to be a fun car and the cab really completes the fun factor. I put the hard top on every once in a while which is a great option. With the soft top up it is plenty quiet inside. If I switch the PSE to quiet mode you can't even here the engine with the top up. If you don't have PSE you will need to have the top down to hear the engine at all. With the wind screen up there is no wind at all in the driver and passenger area so you can have the top down all you want and not worry about it messing up you or your passengers hair. I have always thought a sports car should be a convertible so I have never regretted it. Keep in mind I don't track the car. If I did I would look to get the hard top. As far as the performance difference due to the weight, I suspect you would never notice the difference. I would also make sure you know what options you want before you pull the trigger. There are a lot of these cars available so you should find any combination of options you want if you are patient. I held out for full leather (look at the door panels and dash pod, the full leather has stitched seems the non-full leather is plastic), litronic lights, 18" wheels and heated sport seats. Some of these you can add later, but you will pay less if you find a car that already has them. Added bonuses would be PSE (I like the dash switch for a cab, although most will flame me for that ) and a short shift kit. Good luck with your decision. Kris

Go Targa, best of both worlds.

Cab is nice for around town and open air. Coupe is better for track if you're so inclined. Coupe is also less $ if you compare C2/C2. Hard to go wrong either way.

If you have a bold spot, coupe is the best; otherwise, cab is perfect...

My $0.02, for whatever its worth. These cars are all about enjoyment.. otherwise, why are spending the $$$? Buy whatever you'll enjoy most - if open air motoring on a sunny day is your thing, buy a cab. If going fast around the track is your thing, buy a coupe. If they're both you're thing, buy one of each - Nick

I love the cab, wouldn't have it any other way. Something about having the top down with some good music playing on a great day....even being stuck in traffic is fun.

I've had both. An '01 Cab and currently an '04 coupe. I like the looks of the coupe more and it feels a bit more nimble, although during the months of October-November and March-April I miss the top down driving experience. For me, Summer is way too hot in FL to have the top down much. I kind of defer to the 911 coupe and Boxster convertible preference.

You live in Orlando! I live in Tampa. I had a Targa. I rarely opened the top. It was too hot! You bake at every stop light when the temp is 90+ with humidity to match. You will have great top down weather about 2 to 3 months out of the year. maybe. If this is your daily driver, go coupe, in Orlando.

Depends on your purpose. For just driving aroung town, based on your desctiption, you will be happier with a convertible. A coupe's advantage is that it is lighter and stiffer. These don't seem to be your requirements. If you at looking at more sporting activities (Auto-X, Time Trials, DEs) of just want the fastest and best handling car; then you get a Coupe. Personally, I am not a big fan of 911 cabs...mostly because of the extra weight (especially with a hardtop). If I were to get another convertible, I would probably get a 987 Boxster S which weighs hundreds of lbs less than a comparable 996 Cab. It is both quieter and has less wind buffeting on the highway topdown. At 90 mph with the top down and windows up, you can hear the stereo at normal volume, carry on a normal conversation and don't need a full can or product in your hair.

+1 vote for Targa. And, I live in balmy humid Nashville so pls no flames about how hot they are. Never had a problem. But, as many have said, you have to drive each and decide for yourself. Enjoy the search/shopping! I spent 5 months looking for mine. Your timeframe may be shorter, so good luck!

My vote is to get a Targa! My latest dream car is a 997 Targa 4S. I like all the Targas I've ever seen, and think they would be the perfect street car.

Thanks to everyone that offered their opinion! I know it is my choice but nice to see what the existing owners have to say. BTW- This car is only going to be a weekend driver. My plan is to get an additional purpose track car in a couple years. Until then I would still like to take the cab for some track-day D.E. Anyone know if I will be allowed to do track-day D.E. with the Cab?

Most places now are requiring a rollbar in a CAB. I used to track my CAB (before I got my GT3) and just ran it with the hartop installed. My home track (VIR) requires a rollbar in CAB's. Make sure to not only check with your local PCA chapter but also the track. The highest level of safety requirement always wins.

I'm definitely going to check with the Florida Citrus PCA, just looking for some insight first. I definitely agree about the safety factor, I like being alive and in one piece. Hardtop installed means I can forego the roll bar? If not, ever heard of a detachable roll bar?

It's correct that the the Coupe is a little stiffer and lighter than the Cab but Porsche did not compromise much with the Cab. I really envy all the guys who are such great drivers that they can be faster around the track with a Coupe than with a Cab. I've a Cab, go frequently to the track and was faster than 996 Coupes but also slower than 996 Cabs (depending on the driver and the set-up of the car e.g. suspension), so for me as an average driver speed around the track is more a reward of fewer mistakes than Coupe or Cab. Both can be very fast on the track but I'm sure Walter R�hrl would be some seconds faster around the Nordschleife in a Coupe.

exactly my point. go COUPE!!!!!!!

No offense and it's not just you, but I think it's funny how guys state so proudly online how they passed X and Y car at the track yet they never state their laptimes let alone whether the event even allowed people to use timers or even the people they passed were even trying to go at their best. Facts are facts that generally speaking the coupe performs better than the cab, but the cab isn't enough of a chassis penalty that a boost in power won't make them overlap. Bottom line is, diff strokes for diff folks, but don't bring the whole perf game into this as no one has the time/effort or energy to begin to contribute anything meaningful to such a very subjective discussion. IMO, you just cannot create a design that looks equally good in coupe/cab form. One looks better than the other and the 911 will always look better in the coupe offering. I will go so far as to say the 911 cabs look very awkward kinda like a turtle without its shell deal. Again, no offense, just my opinion in the matter. Bottomline, if your thing is top down driving which I did for 4 years with my two S2000s, get the freakin' cab. It is more showy and puts you in the elements. If your thing is no-wind-in-your-hair and you like the idea of getting the stiffest chassis, get the coupe. It was an easy decision for me. The coupe looks way better than the cabrio. If say an F430, I'd get the convertible as I think the convertible looks as good if not better than the coupe. Call me vain.

I actually agree on this one. The 911 Coupe looks very good and classy and the Cab is an optical compromise to the original 911 form. It's really a question of preferences. I love driving top down more than having a perfect looking car and for me personally it was even worth the extra money for the Cab.

And that makes 100% sense. I can see how driving the cab has its own set of rewards that the coupe could never bring to the table. I miss top down driving, but just not in a 911 cabrio, but if someone said let's trade for a day and try it out? Heck yea I would!

Ben S, I know what you want to do with the car. Keeping that in mind, you need to get a coupe. Tell your girl that her hair can still flow in the wind with the sunroof open, grow some cojones and buy the coupe.

Haha. It's not just about her desires. I like the cab thing too. I'm just going to have to wait to do track days - either get a rollbar or wait for dedicated track car. Detachable roll bar, know where I can get one? I need to do DE first anyway, that I can do in the Cab.

DE'ng is what I am talking about. Nobody is suggesting that you go club racing yet, Andretti. Check with your region as many places will not allow a cab without a roll bar on the track. You are going to be limiting your Porsche experience if you go with the cab. Sure its great to go for a drive with the top down, I have owned converitble Porsches, I get it. I have always had a coupe as well and the track days/DE's have been a big part of my life for the last 12 years. Since your girl is the boss, she will be driving the car anyways, I don't know why I even bother trying to give you advice.

The cab wins hands down on looks, sitting next to a hardtop as long as the top is dropped.(just my opinion).

Get the Coupe for all the good reasons stated above. Since your "girlfriend likes the open-air idea," when she wears a skirt or a dress, tell her not to wear panties. Problem solved!

I saw one the other day in the dealership. Man, that is one nice looking car. I have never considered a targa before but I might now.